It's official: the eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones" will consist of just six episodes.

It has now been confirmed that the season which will end the popular HBO fantasy drama, will be four episodes shorter than what fans have been used to for years, and an episode shorter than the penultimate season.

"Game of Thrones" will return for the seventh episode which is also its penultimate in 2017, while the final season will make its debut in 2018.